History

Historical Summary Of Hampstead Heath

Spa days are only short lived and it becomes an increasingly popular place for residence.

From 1829

Lord of the Manor (Sir Thomas
Maryon Wilson) attempts to sell or build on parts of the Heath much to
public disapproval. His efforts, which were intermittent over 40 years
mostly failed.

1850s

Sir Thomas tried in vain to turn the
Heath into parkland. He also built a brickworks and increased extraction
of sand and gravel from the Heath, an old, lucrative but
environmentally unfriendly practice.

1860

Hampstead Heath station opens and the Heath becomes more accessible to the London population.

1869

Sir Thomas dies.

1871

Sir Thomas’ brother, Sir John, having inherited the estate, agrees to sell his rights over the Heath in the Hampstead Heath Act.

1888

The Heath finally becomes public
property when the Metropolitan Board of Works (MBW) takes possession of
240 acres of land and stops sand extraction on the Heath.

1886-88

Thanks largely to the efforts of
the philanthropic Baroness Burdett-Coutts, founder of the National
Trust, the MBW is able to acquire a further 261 acres of the Heath.

1888

London County Council (LCC) is formed
and takes over responsibility for the Heath, reviving fears that it
might be turned into a municipal park.

1907

There is a major addition to the Heath
with the purchase of the Hampstead Heath Extension with both public and
private funding, to counter the threat of building which had arisen due
to the planning of a new tube station at Golders Green.

1925

LCC acquires Paddock.

Mid/Late 1920s

The house and estate of Kenwood, for generations the London seat of the Earl of Mansfield, becomes public property.

1939-45

During World War II, sand is
extracted from the Heath to fill sand bags and the pits later filled
with rubble from bombed sites in London. Oil from a lorry part kills
many trees and bren gun carriers kill the last heather plants on Sandy
Heath (now reinstated).

1948

LCC adds the gardens of war-destroyed houses to the Heath.

1954

LCC and Hampstead Council acquire part of Pitt House grounds.

1959

LCC acquires Hill Garden.

1986

Greater London Council (GLR), LCC’s
successor, is abolished. A New London Residnary Body takes temporary
control of the Heath, excluding the Kenwood Estate, which is transferred
to English Heritage.

1989

Corporation of London assumes responsibility for the Heath and maintenance of Kenwood.